Color television receiver



Oct. 20, 1959v K. scHLEslNGl-:R

coLoR TELEVISION RECEIVER x A E SNE .AAAAA mx om INVENToR Kaff Sc/Iks/'nge/ BY ,z

K. scHLEslNGER 2,909,595

n COLOR TELEVISION RECEIVER I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IIT 5. .nu n" .r uw .r M l R mgm .Q "A S E u RN (m SN n m f NN im SNN@ E m @cu z, W n N N f Q E l R r l?? ms mm M Oct. 20, 195'9 Original med Aug. 23, 1954 United States Patent Oce 2,909,595 Patented Oct. 20, 1959 COLOR TELEVISION RECEIVER `Continuation of application Serial No. 451,344, August 23, 1954. This application April 22, 1958, Serial No. 731,576

12 Claims. (Cl. 178-5.4)

The present invention relates to color television receivers and more particularly to an improved color television receiver for utilizing the present day standardized color television signal. This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 451,344 iiled August 23, 1954, now abandoned.

In order to achieve compatibility with existing monochrome television receivers the Federal Communication Commission has standardized for color television, a color television signal which includes a luminance component containing sulicient monochrome information for blackand-white reproduction and which also includes chrominance components containing additional information for color reproduction.

The color television signal is formed at the transmitter by deriving separate color video signals from a suitable picture converting means, and these video signals represent various primary colors of the scene to be televised. The color video signals are combined in selected proportions to constitute the luminance signal component (Y) of the color television signal, and this signal component is combined with line and eld synchronizing components to form a composite signal which is amplitude modulated on the television carrier Wave.

'Ihe color video signals are further mixed with the luminance signal component to form a series of colordiierence signals each bearing distinct chroma information. These color-diierence signals are amplitude modulated at various phase angles on a chroma subcarrier, and the modulated carrier is amplitude modulated on the television carrier Wave. Fig. 2 of the attached drawings shows the phase relation between the various color difference signals that are modulated on the chroma subcarrier in the present day standardized color television signal. Namely, the blue (b-y) color-diterence signal and the red (r-y) color-diierence signal are modulated on the subcarrier in phase quadrature, and the green (g-y) color-difference signal is in eiect lmodulated on the subcarrier at a phase angle of 12.5 to the (IJ-y) color-difference signal. As is Well-known, the (g-y) color-diiierence signal can be reconstituted at the receiver from the other two color-diierence signals and is not actually transmitted in the color television signal.

The color television signal also includes bursts of a reference signal which 'has the same frequency as the chroma subcarrier and is in phase oposition with the (b-y) color-difference signal, as shown in Fig. 2. These bursts are impressed upon successive line blanking pulses in the color television signal immediately following the respective line synchronizing pulses pedestalled on the blanking pulses.

It is usual in color television receivers, constructed to utilize the color television signal discussed above, to provide a luminance channel in Which the luminance signal is selected and amplified, and also to provide a chrominance channel in lwhich the chroma subcarrier is demodulated to recover the (r-y) and (b-y) colorditlerence signals. lThese color-dierence signals are matrixed in prior art receivers to obtain the (g-y) color- `difference signal, and the three color-dierence ,signals are matrixed with the luminance I(Y) signalto derive the b, g and r color signals for color reproduction.

The color demodulators inthe chrominance channel respond to a reference signal, generated in the receiver and phased with the color bursts, to producein each instance the modulation of the chroma subcarrier that is in phase with the reference signal in a particular'demodulator. In prior artreceivers, the chroma subcarrier is usually applied to a red demodulator and to a blue demodulator, and the reference signal is applied directly to the latter and through a phase-quadrature network to the former, to enable the demodulators to develop respectively the (r-y) and (b-y) color-dilerence signals.

Patent No. 2,885,467, whichissued May 5, 1959 to the present inventor, and whichis assigned `to the present assignee, discloses and claims various types of pulsed envelope detectors for colorV signals. Amongtheseavere grid controlled single ended detectors which oier adequate color idelity and linearity as Well as high gain. vThe system of the present invention utilizes the combination of those detectors with a delayed color-signal input,v but synchronous cathode drive. For the delay of the color signals, a color memory .is used which consists of a low impedance delay line of critical electrical length for which several designs are disclosed.

A color decoder such as that outlined above is simple to operate because it requires no. critical phase adjustments, provides an efficient-drivefor Vthe pulsed envelope detectors, and is an eicient and economical color dep coder.

A more general objectof` the present invention is to provide an improved color television receiver for utilizing the color television .signal discussedv previously herein, and which receiver is constructed to use relatively simple circuitry and relatively few component parts.

A further object of the invention is. to providesuch an improved television receiver that operates eliiciently to reproduce the color television signal in full color, and yet is relatively simple in its construction and economical in cost.

Yet another object ofthe-invention is to provide such an improved color television receiverpin which all the various color-difference signal components are recovered independently to allow independent adjustment of each of the components. v

Yet another object ofthe invention is to provide such an improved color television receiver in which -the various color components that are to be applied to the image reproducer of the receiver are dervied in an improved and simpliiiedmanner to have the proper magnitude and composition.

A feature ofthe invention is the provision ofL an improved color television receiver which includes a color -memory ordelay line that functions as a low-impedance source to feed-the chroma subcarrier to various chroma rdemodulators, andin which the color reference signal is applied with like phase to all thedemodulators; sothat the varying load lofthe demodulators on the subcarrier and referenceV signal sources does `not atfect the recovery of'the color-diierence signals to any noticeable extent.

3 components of the red and blue color-difference modulations of the chroma subcarrier to derive the green color difference signal; and.' in which independent adjustments for `the red, green and blue color-difference signals are provided.V Y.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such an improved color television receiver that includes separate demodulators for the red, green and blue colordilerence signals; and individual matrixes from each demodulator to the luminance channel `for deriving the various color signals, with each matrix having a variable tap connected to provide an ecient adjustment for each of the color signals.

The above and other features of the invention which are believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying'drawings in which:

Fig. l shows a television receiver constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is the phase diagram referred to previously herein showing the relation of the various color difference signals and the color reference burst on the chroma subcarrier;

Fig. Zia-3c show various types of color memory lines that may be used in the receiver; and,

Figs. 4 and 5 show modications of a portion of the color receiver of the invention.

The invention provides a color television receiver for `utilizing a vcolor television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier component having a selected frequency and modulated `by a plurality of different colordiierence signal components -each bearing ya selected phase relation with respect to one another, and which color television signal-further includes a luminance signal component and bursts of a reference component having the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier and having a selected phase relative to the color-difference signal components.

The receiver includes a detector for demodulating the color television signal, a luminance channel coupled to the detector for translating the luminance signal component, and a chrominance channel coupled to the detector for selecting and translating the reference bursts and the chrominance subcarrier component. A plurality of chroma demodulators are included in the chrominance channel, and each of the chroma demodulators s responsive to a color reference signal to recover a particular one of the color-difference signal components which has a phase coinciding with the phase of the reference signal in that particular demodulator. The receiver also includes a reference signal source which is responsive to the reference bursts of the color television signal for generating a reference signal having the frequency and phase of the reference bursts, and means for impressing the reference signal from the source on to the chroma demodulators. A color memory or delay line is included in the chrominance channel, and the reference bursts and chrominance subcarrier are translated through this line. A selected point on the line is connected to the reference signal source so as to supply the reference bursts to the source and establish a selected phase relation between the reference signal and the color-diference signal components in each demodulator. Other points on the line are connected to respective ones of the chroma demodulators so that the phase of different ones of the color-difference signal modulation components of the chrominance subcarrier coincides with the phase of the reference signal in diiferent ones of the chroma demodulators. Potentiometer mixing means are connected to the chromaV demodulators to combine the luminance signal component translated by the luminance channel with the respective color-dierence signal components produced by the chroma demodulators so as to provide a plurality of distinct color video signals. The color video signals are then impressed on the reproducing means of the receiver to' enable the reproducer to reproduce the televised scene in full color.

The color television system of Fig. l includes a receiver portion 10 having input terminals connected to an appropriate antenna 11. The unit 10 Iincludes the usual radio frequency amplifier, first detector, intermediate frequency amplifier, second detector, and sweep stages. Unit 10 is coupled to the luminance channel of the receiver, and the luminance channel includes a irst video amplier 12 and a second video ampliier 19.

The video amplifier 12 is coupled through a capacitor 2S to the control electrode of an electron discharge device 34, the latter device constituting the video amplifier 19. The control electrode for device 34 is connected to the positive terminal B-jthrough a pair of resistors 35, 36; the junction of these resistors being by-passed to ground through a capacitor 33. The cathode of device 34 is connected to ground through a resistor 37 shunted by a capacitor 38.

The luminance channel formed by video amplifiers 12, 19 is adapted to translate the luminance component of the color television signal and, for that reason, the video amplifiers are of the wide-band type and have a pass band of from 0-4 megacycles for the present-day standardized color television signal.

The unit 10 is also coupled to the chrominance channel of the receiver which includes a band-pass amplifier 39, a color memory or delay line 40 and three chroma demodulators 41a, 41h, 41C. The band-pass amplifier 39 includes an electron discharge device 42 having a control electrode coupled through a capacitor 43 to an output terminal of unit 10, with the control electrode being connected to ground through a resistor 44 which forms a high-pass iilter with capacitor 43. The cathode of device 42 is connected to ground through a resistor 45 shunted by a capacitor 46, and the anode is connected to the positive terminal B-lthrough an inductance coil 47 and a load resistor 48, coil 47 being shunted by a damping resistor 47a. The junction of coil 47 and resistor 48 is coupled to ground through a capacitor 49. The anode is coupled to the input terminal 50 of color memory line 40 `through a capacitor 51 and inductance coil 52. The junction of capacitor 51 and coil 52 is coupled to ground through a series connected resistor 53a and a capacitor 53; and the junction of coil 52 and terminal 50 is Coupled to ground through an inductance coil 54 shunted by a capacitor 55. The elements 47, 49, 51-55 form a triple tuned transformer band-pass network having a pass band of 2.5-4 megacycles to select the chroma subcarrier and the reference bursts. l

The color memory line 40 includes a series of inductance coils 40u- 401' connected in series with their junctions coupled to ground through a corresponding series of capacitors Mij-40p. The line is terminated in its characteristic impedance by a resistor 40q. The band-pass network 47, 49, 51-55 is matched with the input impedance of line 40 for maximum power transfer to the line in the frequency range of the band-pass network. 1

The input terminal 50 of the color memory line 40 is directly connected to the control electrode of an electron discharge device 57 which is connected to form the blue demodulator 41a. An intermediate point on line 40, at the junction of coils 40C, 50d and capacitor 401, is connected to the control electrode of an electron discharge device 59 constituting the red demodulator 4111. A second point on the line 40, at the junction of coils 4011, 40 and capacitor 40p, is connected to the control electrode of an electron discharge device 61 forming the green demodulator 41C.

Unit 10 supplies a series of pulses corresponding to the line synchronizing pulses over line 13 to a color burst regenerator -80 of any Well known construction, such as a ringing crystal or A.F.C. circuit. Input terminal 50 of delay line 40 is also coupled to the regenerator to supply the reference'bursts thereto. The output terminals of unit 80 are coupled respectively to ground and through a capacitor 86 to the control electrode of an electron discharge device 87, the control electrode being connected to ground through a resistor 88. The cathode of device 87 is connected to ground, and the anode of the device is connected to the positive terminal B+ through a variable inductance coil 89 and a resistor 90. The junction of coil 89 and resistor 90 is connected through a capacitor 91 anda resistor 92 to the upper end of a biasing network including a resistor 104 shunted, by a capacitor 99 and connected to ground. The junction of capacitor 91 and resistor 9 2 is connected to the bias network through an inductance coil 93 shunted by a capacitor 94. The junction of capacitor 91 and resistor 92 is connected to the cathodes of the color demodulator discharge devices 57, 59 and 61.

The anode of device 57 is connected to the positive terminal B+ through a constant K low pass network including a pair of inductance coils 95,` 96 and a terminating resistor 97, and capacitors 98 and 113 coupled to ground. The anode of device 59 is connected to the positive terminal B+ through a constant K low pass network including a pair of inductance coils 100, 101 and through a resistor 102, and capacitors 103 andy 115 coupled to ground. The anode of device 61 is connected to the positive terminal B+ through a constant K low pass network including a pair of inductance coils 105, 106 and through a resistor 107, and capacitors 109, 117 coupled to ground.

The anode of device 34 in video amplifier 19 is coupled to ground through a resistor 111 and a capacitor 110. The junction of the anode and resistor 111 is coupled through a resistor 112 to the common junction of coils 95 and 96, which junction is bypassed to ground through capacitor 113. The common junction of resistors 111 and 112 is coupled to the common junction of coils 100 and 101 through a resistor 114, which junction is bypassed to ground through capacitor 115. The common junction of resistors 111 and 112 is also coupled to the common junction of coils 105 and 106 through a resistor 116, which common junction is bypassed to ground through capacitor 117. Resistor 112 has a variable tap thereon which is coupled through a capacitor 118 to the control electrode of an electron discharge device 119, -this control electrode being connected to ground through a resistor 120. Device 119 in conjunction with an electron discharge device 121 constitutes the blue video signal amplifier 122 of the receiver. The cathode of device 119 is connected to ground through a resistor 123 and a variable resistor 124, these resistors being shunted by a capacitor 125. The anode of device 119 is connected to the positive terminal B+ through a pair of resistors 126, 127, Whose common junction is bypassed to ground through a capacitor 128. The anode of device 119 is coupled through a capacitor 129 to the control electrode of discharge device 121, and the control electrode is connected to the junction of resistors 126, 127 through a resistor 130. The cathode of device 121 is connected to ground and the anode of the device is connected to the positive terminal B+ through an inductance coil 131 u and a resistorV 132. The anode is further connected to the control electrode 133a of a cathode ray imagereproducing device 133 which is constructed to reproduce a blue image. The anode of device 121 is further coupled to the cathode of device 119 through a resistor 134 and a i capacitor 13S. The cathode 133b of reproducer 133 is connected through a resistor 140 to the positive terminal B+. The accelerating electrode 133C of reproducer 133 is connected to a movable tap on resistor 141; resistor 141 and a further resistor 142 being connected as a potentiom- 6 eter between the positive terminal B+ and a terminal B++ of higher positive potential.

Resistor 116 has a variable tap thereon which is coupled to an amplifier 136 and amplifier 136 may be connected in the same manner as amplifier 122 and constitutes the amplifier for the green Video signal. Amplifier 136 is coupled, in a manner similar to the coupling of amplifier 122, to a cathode-ray image-reproducing device 137 which is constructed to 'reproduce a green image.

Resistor 114 has a variable tap thereon which is coupled toan amplifier 138, the latter amplifier may also be connected in the same manner as amplifier 122 and it constitutes the amplifier for the red video signal. Amplifier 138 is coupled, in the same manner as amplifier 122, to a cathode-ray image reproducing device 139 which is constructed to reproduce a red image. As is well known to the art, reproducing devices 133, 137 and 139 may be incorporated as separate electron guns within a single envelope.

When a color television signal of the composition discussed previously herein is intercepted by antenna 11, such a signal is amplified and demodulated in unit 10. The demodulated signal 4is supplied to video amplifier 12 in the luminance channel, wherein it is amplified and applied to video amplifier 19 in which it is further amplified. As previously noted, the video amplifiers 12 and 19 are of the Wide-band type and the luminance channel translates a composite video signal which includes the luminance signal component (Y).

The control electrode of device 34 is returned to the positive terminal B+, so that the synchronizing components (which extend in the positive-going direction) drive the control electrode positive with respect to the cathode and 'are suppressed. Because of this, the composite video signal appearing at the output of the luminance channel contains the line and field blanking components but not the associated synchronizing componets. This removal of the high amplitude synchronizing components assists greatly in the D.C. restoration process of the receiver in amplifiers 122, 136, 138; since it obviates the tendency of the synchronizing components to paralyze the restoration action of these amplifiers.

Bandpass amplifier 39 is designed, as previously noted, to have a pass band of from 2.5-4 megacycles, and this amplifier selects the modulated chroma subcarrier as well as the reference signal bursts pedestalled on the line blanking pulses. Y

The amplified chroma subcarrier from amplifier 39 is impressed on delay line 40. Delay line 40 in the ernbodiment illustrated in Fig. l is constructed to have a length corresponding to a phase shift of 235 at the chroma subcarrier frequency. The input terminal 50 of the line is coupled to the blue demodulator 57; a point down the line corresponding to the junction of coils 40e, 40d is connected to the red demodulator 59; and a point down the line corresponding to the junction ofcoils 40h, 401' is connected to the green demodulator. Therefore,.if the color reference signal impressed on the cathodes of the devices 57, 59, 61 is in phase opposition with the blue modulation of the chroma subcarrier at the input terminal of line 40, it will be in phase opposition with the red modulation at the junction of coils 40C, 40d (see Fig. 2), and it will be in phase opposition with the resultant of the red and blue modulations corresponding to the green vector at the junction of coils 40h, 4011 Therefore, under these conditions, the demodulator 41a produces the (Z1-y) color-difference signal, demodulator 41b produces the (r-y) color-difference signal, and demodulator 41c produces the (g-y) color-difference signal.`

To establish the phase relations discussed in the preceding paragraph, the input terminal 50 of delay line 40 is coupled to the color burst regenerator 80. The line synchronizing pulses supplied to the unit 80 over lead 13 are used therein to gate the color bursts supplied thereto from the input terminal 50 of delay line 40. The gated bursts are usedin unit S to produce a color reference signal at the output terminals of the unit having the phase relationships discussed above with the modulations of the chroma subcarrier at the various points on line 40. Any phase discrepancies in the system can be compensated by shifting the lead to unit 80 along line 40 until the proper phasing between the reference signal and the chroma modulations is obtained. f

The color reference signal from unit 80 `is amplified in amplifier 87 and impressed on the cathodes of devices 57, 59, 61 by the connection from the top of coil 93 in coupling network 92-94- Network 99, 104 provides a positive cathode bias on devices 57, 59 and 61. This bias establishes the devices in class AB for the referencesignal so that they may properly perform their demodulating function in the manner fully described in the copending application referred to previously herein.

In the manner described above, the phasing of the color subcarrier and the'reference signal in device S7 is appropriate so that the device produces the (b-y) color difference signal. The phasing ofthe color subcarrier and the reference signal in device 59 is such that device 59 produces the (r-y) color difference signal. The phasing of the color subcarrier and the reference signal in device 61 is such that device 51 produces the (g-y) color difference signal as a result of the interaction of the reference signal with the (r-y) and (I2-y) modulations of the color subcarrier. The use of =a separate demodulator for the (g-y) color-difference signal is advantageous in that it renders this color-difference signal independent of any degradation of the detected other color-difference signals by the other color demodulators. This degradation is sometimes appreciable on the low level (b-y) color-difference signal, and by the independent demodulation of the high level (g-y) colordifference signal in the system of this invention, the latter signal is not affected by the unreliability of the former. Moreover, the independent demodulation of the (g-y) color difference signals retains the D.C. infomation of that signal; and it also allows for the independent adlustment of all three color-difference signals.

The color memory line forms a low impedance source for the control electrodes of the color demodulators 57, 59 and 61, which is required for the efiicient drive of the demodulators. The reference signal is directly applied with common phase to the cathodes of the demodulators and the varying load exhibited by the cathodes does not adversely affect the color demodulation. The reference signal has an appropriate amplitude, and the devices are biased to class B operation for the reference signal in the manner described. Therefore, the devices 57, 59 and 61 operate in the manner described in the copending application 372,697 (referred to previously herein) to recover the various color-difference signals.

The constant K networks in the output circuits of the demodulators 41a, 41h, 41C pass the color-difference signals with uniform response through respective coupling capacitors 113, 115, 117 to the lower ends of respective resistors 112, 114, 116. Y

The (b-y) color-difference signal from device 57 is mixed with the (y) signal from device 34 across the potentiometer formed by resistors 111 and 112 to produce the blue video signalat the variable tap on resistor 112. In the same manner, the red video signal is produced at the variable tap on resistor 114, and the green v-ideo signal is produced at the variable tap on resistor 116. The variable taps provide an independent color adjustment for each of the color video signals.

Amplifier 122 amplifies the blue video signal from the variable tap on resistor 112 and supplies that signal to the blue reproducer 133. The devices 119 and 121 in the amplifier are coupled for degenerative feedback operation by resistor 134 and capacitor 135. This renders the amplifier highly linear and independent of tube and power supply variations. Also, the amplifier has high gain and may be driven by the high impedance matrix 111, 112. 'Ilhe control electrode of device 121 is biased positively through resistor 130 so that the control electrode is driven positive by the blanking components of the luminance signal and the 'device functions as a D.C. restorer for the D.C. components of the color video signal. The amplifier is simple to align and includes only one peaking coil 131.

The green signal from the variable tap on resistor 116 is amplified in the green amplifier 136 which may be of similar construction to amplifier 122, and is applied thereby to the green reproducer 137. The red video signal from the movable tap from resistor 114 is amplified in the red amplifier 138, which may be of similar construction to the other two, and is applied thereby to the red reproducer 139.

The cathode of reproducer 133 is returned to the positive terminal B+ through resistor 140 so that voltage variations of the D.C. source have no adverse effect on the image reproduced by the reproducer. The accelerating electrode 133e is connected to the variable tap on resistor 141 so that the reproducer can be adjusted to cut off at the blanking level of the applied color video signal. Reproducers 137 and 139 can be connected in the same manner.

In the manner described above, the incoming color television signal is demodulated and .the various color video signals `are derived therefrom and supplied to the corresponding image reproducers so that the televised scene may Ibe reproduced in full color.

In a constructed embodiment of the invention the following circuit constants were used, and these are listed herein merely by way of example and are not intended to limit the invention in any way:

Resistor 111 1 kilo-ohm.

Resistor 112 l0 kilo-ohms. Resistor 114 l0 kilo-ohms. Resistor 116 10 kilo-ohms. Resistor 120 1 megohm.

Capacitor 100 micromicrofarads. Resistor 123 100 ohms.

Resistor 124 250 ohms.

Resistor 126 l0 kilo-ohms. Resistor 127 10 kilo-ohms. Capacitor 128 l0 mcrofarads. Capacitor 129 0.1 mcrofarads. Resistor 130 3.3 megohms.

Coil 131 100 microhenries. Resistor 132 5 kilo-ohms.

Resistor 134 6.8 kilo-ohms. Capacitor 135 4 mcrofarads. Resistor 47 kilo-ohms. Capacitor 43 100 micromicrofarads. Resistor 44 10 kilo-ohms. Resistor 45 22()v kilo-ohms. Capacitor 46 0.1 mcrofarads. Device 42 6AH6.

Coil 40a 4.3 microhenries. Coils 40b-40h 8.5 microhenries (each). Coil 401' 4.3 microhenries. Capacitor 40]' 42 mcromicrofarads. Capacitors 40k- 40p 85 micromicrofarads (each). Resistor 40g 330 ohms.

Resistor 104 150 ohms.

Capacitor 99 0.1 mcrofarads. Resistor 92 150 ohms.

Capacitor 94 270 micromicrofarads. Coil 93 3.3 microhenries.

Coil 95 2 millihenries.

Coil 96 1 millihenry.

Resistor 97 6.8 kilo-ohms.

Figs. 3a-3c show various types of delay lines that can be used for the color memory line 40 of Fig. 2. In the arrangement of Fig. 3a the line' is 270 long.' The red connection is made fromthe input terminal, the bursts are taken yfrom a tap 90 down the line, the green connection `is takenA from a tap 145 down the line, and the blue connection is taken' from a tap 270 down the line. These connections provide delays conforming with the diagram of Fig. 2, and in 'this manner, and' when the various points on the lineare connected to the color demodulators and lburst regenerator of Fig. 2`, thechroma subcarrier` and the reference signal are supplied to the various chroma demodulators with appropriate phases so that the various color difference signals can be recovered in the respective chroma demodulators.

In the arrangement of Fig. 3b, the shortest possible line of 215 is used, and the green connection is made from the input terminal, the blueand burst connections are taken 125 down the line, and the red connection an additional 90 down the line. These vconnections also correspond to the phase relations shown in Fig. 2 so that appropriate phase relations exist in the various chroma demodulators for the selective recovery of the color difference signals. p

The arrangement of Fig. 3c is preferred and is similar to the arrangements shown in Pig. l, with the exception that the bursts are taken 180 down .the line so as to be in phase with the (b-y) color-dilference signal, the chroma demodulators responding to an inphase or 180 out-of-phase relation between the reference signal and the color difference signal to be recovered. Although the line ofA Fig. 3c is longer than the other two (235 itis preferred because the blue signal, which is the weakest, is detected before it enters the line and is attenuated thereby.

The arrangement of Fig. 4 shows a modification of the chroma demodulators and delay lline 40. In the ylatter embodiment the color memory or delay line 40 is replaced by a pair of lines 40a, 40b. The chrominance subcarrier and reference signal bursts are supplied to the input terminals 50a and 50b of the lines from a bandpass amplier including discharge device 42a and through a balanced input circuit `including a vbiilar winding 200 whose center tap is grounded. Band-pass amplifier 42a is coupled to the receiver in the same manner as the embodiment of Fig. 1 through high-pass lter 43, 44. The input terminal 50a is connected to the input terminal of burst regenerator 80 to supply the reference bursts thereto. p

The input terminals 50a and 50b are connected respectively to a pair of rectiiiers 201, '202 which are coupled together through a pair of capacitors 203, 204 shunted by a pair of resistors 205, 206. The common junction of capacitors 203, 204 is connected by lead 207 to the output circuit of burst regenerator 80; and the common junction of resistors 205, 206 is connected vthrough a low-pass lter 208 to output terminal 209.

With the disclosed circuit, the chrominance subcarrier component is supplied to the devices 20'1, 202 in phase opposition and theV reference signal is supplied thereto in 'like phase. Moreover, the reference signal is in phase opposition to the (buy) modulation of the subcarrier and in phase quadrature with the (r-y) modulation. The reference signalgis given an amplitude large as compared with the chrominance subcarrier.

As fully described in copending application 322,763 tiled November 26, 1952 in the nameV of the present inventor and assigned to the present assignee; the demodulator formed by rectiers 201, 202 recovers the (b-y) color-dilference signal land supplies it'to output terminal 209. Terminal 209, as inthe embodiment of Fig; 1, is coupled to matrix potentiometer resistor 112 so that the blue video signal may be recovered.

The system of Fig. 4 includes a second pair of rectitiers 210 and 211 which are connected respectively to points on lines 40a and 4012 spaced ,90 down the lines from the input terminals 50a, 50h. Rectiiers 210 and 10 211 are connected together through capacitors 212, 1212i shunted by resistors 214, 21.5. The common junction of the capacitors is connected to lead 207, and the common junction of the resistors is connected to output terminal 216 through a low-pass filter 217.

The demodulator including rectifiers 210, 211 operates in the same manner as the previous demodulator, except that the memory lines 40a, 40b establish the (r-y) modulation of the chrominance subcarrier in the appropriate phase for recovery by the latter demodulator. The (r-y) color-difference signal is produced at terminal 216 and is supplied (as in Fig. 1) to the matrix potentiometer resistor 114 so that the red video signal mal be recovered. i

A third pair of rectiiiers 217, 218 is included in the system, and these rectifiers are connected respectively to points 235 down lines 40a, 40b. Rectiiiers 217, 218 are coupled together through capacitors 219, 220 shunted by resistors 221, 222. The common junction of the capacitors is connected to lead 207, and the common junction of the resistors is connected through low-pass filter 223 to output terminal 224.

In the latter demodulator formed by rectiiiers 217 218, the color memory lines establish the appropriate phase relationships so that the (g-y') color-difference signal is recovered at output terminal 224. The latter signal is supplied to the matrix potentiometer resistor 116 of Fig. 1 so that the green video signal may be recovered.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 except that the reference signal is applied to the rectiers of each demodulator in phase opposition and the chrominance subcarrier is so applied in like phase. This calls for a balanced input circuit for the reference signal including a transformer 215 with a grounded center-tapped secondary, and requires but one color memory line 40.

In the latter embodiment, the reference signal is applied to the rectiiers in each demodulator in phase opposition over leads 207a and 207b connected from the respective rectiiiers to the sides ofthe secondary of transformer 215, the primary of the transformer being coupled to the output circuit of burst regenerator to derive the reference signal therefrom. The chrominance subcarrier is supplied to the respective junctions of capacitors 203,

204; 212, 213; and 219, 220 from the appropriate points on the color memory line 40. The various `color-difference signals are produced at output terminals 209, 216, 224 for application to the color matrix of Fig. 1.

The invention provides, therefore,van improved television receiver in which the various chroma components are recovered and combined with the luminance component in an improved and simplified manner to obtain the desired color video signals for true and eicient reproduction of the televised scene in full color.

While particular embodiments of the invention have beenshown and described, modiications may be made and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modificationsv as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a luminance signal component anda chrominance subcarrier component, said subcarrier component having a selected frequency and having a pair of different color-dilerence components modulated thereon -in phase quadrature with one another, and which receiver produces a color image made up of a plurality of distinct colors, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal, a luminance channel coupled to said detector unit for translating the luminance component, a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for vselecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier, a

plurality of chroma demodulators included in said chr'ominance.` channel Vcorresponding in number to the distinct colors in the color image, means for impressing a reference signal with like phase on all of said chroma demodulators with said reference "signal having the fre'- quency of the subcarrier Vand a selected phase relation with the color-diierence components, a delay line included in said chrominance channel and through which the subcarrier is translated, means for connecting selected points on said delay line to respective ones of said chroma demodulators to impress said chrominance subcarrier on said chroma demodulators with selected diiferent phase relations with respect to said reference signals to enable said chroma demodulators to recover corresponding ones of said color-difference components, said chroma demodulators each including a low pass output lter for iiltering the respective color diierence component, and means for combining the luminance signal component translated by said luminance channel with respective color-difference components from said low pass lters of said chroma demodulators to derive a plurality of distinct color signals.

2. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a luminance signal component and a chrominance subcarrier component, said subcarrier component having a selected frequency and having a plurality of ditferent color-difference components amplitude modulated thereon with selected phase relations with one another, and which television signal further includes bursts of a reference component having the frequency of the subcarrier component and having a selected phase relation with the color-difference components, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the color-television signal, a luminance channel coupled to said detector unit for translating the luminance component, a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the reference bursts and the chrominance subcarrier component, image reproducing means, a plurality of chroma demodulators included in said chrominance channel, circuit means responsive to the reference bursts for generating a reference signal having the frequency and phase of the reference bursts as applied thereto, means for impressing the reference signal from said circuit means with like phase on all of said chroma demodulators, a delay line included in said chrominance channel and through which the reference bursts and the subcarrier are translated, means connecting a selected point n said delay line to said circuit means to establish a selected phase relation between the reference signal generated thereby and the color-difference components, means connecting selected points on said delay line to respective ones of said chroma demodulators to impress said chrominance subcarrier on said chroma demodulators with selected different phase relations with respect to said reference signal to enable said chroma demodulators to recover corresponding ones of said color-diierence components, said chroma demodulators each having a low pass output iilter for passing the respective color diiference component, potentiometer mixing means connecting the output of said luminance channel to said low pass output filter of each of said chroma demodulators to combine 4the luminance signal component translated by 'said luminance channel with respective color-difference com- .ponents produced by said chroma demodulators to derive a plurality of distinct color signals, and means for iml pressing said color signals on said image reproducing means.

3. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a luminance signal component and a chrominance subcarrier component, said subcarrier component having a selected frequency and ,being amplitude modulated by a pair of color-diierence components in phase quadrature with one another, and which television signal further includes bursts of a reference component having the frequency of the subcarrier component and being in phase 'quadrature with one of the color-diierence components, said receiver including incombinatiom-a detector unit for demodulating the color television sgnal;.a luminance'channel coupled to said detector-unit for translating ,theluminance component; a chrominance-channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the reference signal bursts and the chrominance subcarrier component; image reproducing means, first, second, and third chroma demodulators of the phase-detector type included in said chrominance channel; circuit means responsive to the reference bursts for generating a reference signal having the frequency and phase of the reference bursts applied thereto; means for impressing the reference signal from said circuit means with like phase on all of said chroma demodulators; a color memory delay line included in said chrominance channel and through which the reference bursts and the subcarrier are translated; means for connecting a point on said delay line to said circuit means to supply said reference bursts thereto and establish a predetermined phase relation between said reference signal impressed on said chroma demodulators and said chrominance subcarrier; means for connecting a selected point on said delay line to said first chroma demodulator so that the phase of one of said color-difference components coincides therein with the phase of said reference signal; means for connecting a point on said delay line spaced from said selected point to said second chroma demodulator so that the phase of the other of said colordiiference components coincides therein with the phase of said reference signal; means for connecting a further point on said delay line to said third chroma demodulator so that both said color-difference components have a selected phase relation therein with respect to said reference signal; individual potentiometer mixing means connecting the output of said luminance channel to each of said chroma demodulators to combine the luminance signal component translated by said luminance channel with respective color-dilerence components produced by said chroma demodulators to derive a plurality of distinct color video signals, amplifying means for impressing said color video signals on said image reproducing means, and each of said potentiometer mixing means having a variable tap for supplying the corresponding color video signal to said amplifying means.

4. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier component having a selected frequency and being amplitude modulated by a pair of color components in phase quadrature with one another, and which further includes bursts of a reference signal having the frequency of the subcarrier component and being in phase quadrature with one of the color components, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal; a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the reference signal bursts and the chrominance subcarrier component; iirst, second, and third chroma demodulators of the phase-detector type included in said chrominance channel; circuit means responsive to the reference bursts for generating a reference signal having the frequency and carrier; means for connecting a selected point on said delay line to said rst chroma demodulator so that the phase of one of said color components coincides therein ywith the phase of said reference signal; means for connecting a point on said delay line spaced 90 from said selected point to said second chroma demodulator so coincides therein with the phase of the reference signal; and means for connecting a further .point on said delay line to said third chroma demodulator so that both said color components have a selected phase relation therein with respect to said reference signal. i

5. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes achrominance subcarrier component having a selected frequency and being amplitude modulated by a pair of color components in phase quadrature with one another; and which further includes bursts of a reference signal having the frequency of the subcarrier component and being in phase quadrature with one of the color components, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal; a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier component and the reference signal bursts; a plurality of chroma demodulators each including an electron discharge device having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode; circuit means responsive to the reference bursts for generating a reference signal having the frequency and phase of the reference bursts applied thereto; means for impressing the reference signal from said circuit means with like phase on the cathodes of the electron discharge devices included in said chroma demodulators; a color memory delay line included in said chrominance channel and through which the reference bursts and the subcarrier are translated; means for connecting a point on said delay line to said circuit means to supply said reference bursts thereto and establish a predetermined phase relation between said reference signal impressed on said chroma demodulators and said chrominance subcarrier; means for connecting selected points on said delay line respectively to the control electrodes of the discharge devices included in said chroma demodulators to establish a different predetermined phase relationship between said chrominance subcarrier and said reference signal in each of said demodulators; means for biasing the discharge devices in said chroma demodulators to class B operation forrsaid reference signal; and means for deriving the color components from the respective anodes of said discharge devices.

6. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier component having a selected Vfrequency and being amplitude modulated by a pair of color components in phase quadrature with one another, and which further includes bursts of a reference signal having the frequency of the subcarrier component and being in phase quadrature with one of the color components, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal; a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier component and the reference signal burst; a plurality of chroma demodulators each including a pair of rectifiers intercoupled by a pair of series-connected capacitors shunted by a pair of series-connected resistors; circuit means rponsive to the reference bursts for generating a reference signal having the frequency and phase of the reference bursts applied thereto; means for impressing the reference signal from said circuit means with like phase on the common junction of said capacitors in each of said chroma demodulators; a pair of color memory delay lines of like characteristics included in said chrominance channel; means for connecting a point on one of said memory lines to said circuit means to supply said reference bursts thereto and establish a predetermined phase relation between said reference signal impressed on said chroma demodulators and said chrominance subcarrier; means for impressing the chrominance subcarrier and the reference bursts in phase .opposition on said memory lines; means for connecting selected points on said memory lines to said rectiers in each of said demodulators to establish a diierent predetermined phase rela- '14 tionship between said chrominance subcarrier and said reference signal in each of said chroma demodulators; and means for deriving the color components from the common junction of said resistors in respective ones of said chroma demodulators.

7. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier component having a selected frequency and being amplitude modulated by a pair of color components in phase quadrature with one another, and which further includes bursts of a reference signal having the frequency of the subcarrier component and being in phase quadrature with one of the color components, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal; ya chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier component and the reference signal bursts; a plurality of chroma demodulators each including a pair of rectifers intercoupled by a pair of series-connected capacitors shunted by a pair of series-connected resistors; circuit means responsive to the reference bursts for generating a reference signal having the frequency and phase of the reference bursts applied thereto; means for impressing the reference signal from said circuit means in phase opposition on said rectifiers in each of said chroma demodulators; a color memory delay line included in said chrominance channel and through which said chrominance `sub-carrier and said reference bursts are translated; means for connecting a point on said memory line to said circuit means to supply said reference bursts thereto and establish a predetermined phase relation between said reference signal impressed on said chroma demodulators and said chrominance subcarrier; means for connecting selected pointsl on said memory line to the common junction of said capacitors in each of said chroma demodulators to establish a dierent predetermined phase relationship between said chrominance subcarrierV and said reference signal in each of said chroma demodulators; and means for deriving the color components from the common junction of said resistors in respective ones of said chroma demodulators.

8. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier having a selected frequency and having a pair of different color components amplitude modulated thereon with a phase quadrature relation to one another, said receiver including in combination; a detector circuit for demodulating the color television signal, a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier; first, second, and third chroma demodulators included in said chrominance channel; means for generating a reference signal and for impressing said reference signal with like phase on all of said chroma demodulators, said reference signal having the frequency of the subcarrier and Ia selected phase relation with the color components modulated thereon; means included in said chrominance channel for supplying said chrominance subcarrier to said rst and second chroma demodulators in phase quadrature relation and with -a selected phase with respect to said reference signal to enable said first and second chroma demodulators respectively to recover said first and second color components; and means for impressing said chroma subcarrier on said third demodulator with a selected phase with respect to said reference signal to enable said third demodul-ator to recover a third color component.

9. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier having a selected frequency and having a plurality of dilerent color-difference components modulated thereon with selected phase relations with respect to one another and which also includes a luminance signal component having blanking pulses with synchronizing pulses pedestaled on such blanking pedestals, said receiver including in combination; a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal; a luminance channel coupled to said detector unit for translating the luminance component of the detected television signal, circuit means included in `said luminance channel for removing said synchronizing pulses from said blanking pulses, chrominance channel coupled to said detector for yselecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier, a plurality of chroma demodulators included in said chrominance channel, means for impressing said chrominance subcarrier on said chroma demodulators, means for producing a reference signal having the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier, means for impressing such reference signal on said chroma demodulators to cause said demodulators to produce different color-diiference signals; means for combining the luminance signal component translated by said luminance channel with respective color-difference signals produecd by said chroma demodulators to derive a plurality of different chroma signals; image reproducer means; and amplifier means for supplying said different chroma signals respectively to said image reproducer means, said amplifier means having a section for each of said chroma signals and each such section including a pair of cascade-connected degenerative discharge devices for amplifying a corresponding one of said chroma signals and responsive to the blanking pulses to insert a direct-current component in such chroma signal.

10. A television receiver for utilizing a television signal which includes a luminance signal component having blanking pulses with synchronizing pulse pedestaled on such blanking pulses, said receiver including in combination, a detector unit for demodulating the television signal, a luminance channel coupled to said detector for translating the luminance component of the detected television signal, circuit means included in said luminance channel for removing said synchronizing pulses from said blanking pulses, cathode-ray image reproducer means having input electrodes for controlling the intensity of the cathode-ray beamV therein, yand degenerative amplifier means interposed between `said circuit means and said input electrodes of said image reproducer, said amplifier means including an electron discharge device responsive to the blanking pulses to insert a direct-current component in the signal amplied thereby.

ll. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier having a selected frequency and having rst and second diierent color component-s amplitude modulated thereon with a phase quadrature relation to one another, said receiver including in combination, a detector circuit for demodulating the color television signal, a chrominance channel coupled to said detector unit for selecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier, at least two chroma demodulators included in said chrominance channel, means for developing a reference signal having the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier, means included in said chrominance channel for supplying said chromin- Cil ance 'subcarrier to said chroma demodulators, means for supplying said reference signal to the rst of said chroma demodulators so that said reference signal is in phase with said rst color component in said rst chroma demodulator, an output circuit coupled to said first chroma demodulator for deriving said rst color component therefrom, means for supplying said reference signal to the second of said chroma demodulators so that said reference signal has a predetermined out-of-phase relation with said first and second color components in said second chroma demodulator, and an output circuit coupled to said second chroma demodulator for deriving a third color component different from said rst and second color components from said second chroma demodulator.

12. A color television receiver for utilizing a color television signal which includes a chrominance subcarrier having a selected frequency and having a plurality of different color-difference components modulated thereon with selected phase relations with respect to one another and which also includes a luminance signal component having blanking pulses with synchronizing pulses pedestaled on such blanking pedestals, said receiver including in combination; a detector unit for demodulating the color television signal; a `luminance channel coupled to said detector unit for translating the luminance component of the detected television signal, circuit means included in said luminance channel for removing said synchronizing pulses from said blanking pulses; a chrominance channel coupled to said detector for selecting and translating the chrominance subcarrier, a plurality of chroma demodulators included in said chrominance channel, means for impressing said chrominance subcarrier on said chroma demodulators, means for producing a reference signal having the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier, means for impressing such reference signal on said chroma demodulators to cause said demodulators to produce different color-difference signals; means for combining the luminance signal component translated by said luminance channel with respective colordifference signals produced by said chroma demodulators to derive a plurality of different chroma signals; image reproducer means having input electrodes for controlling the intensity of the cathode ray beam therein; and degenerative amplier means for supplying said different chroma signals respectively to said input electrodes of said image reproducer means, said amplifier means having a section for amplifying each of said chroma signals and responsive to the blanking pulses to insert a directcurrent component `in such chroma signal.

References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

